Set in charming and historic Aix-en-Provence, France, this delightful debut mystery introduces readers to Antoine Verlaque, the handsome and seductive chief magistrate of Aix, and his on-again, off-again love, law professor Marine Bonnet. When local nobleman Etienne de Bremont falls to his death from the family château, the town is abuzz with rumors. Verlaque suspects foul play and must turn to Marine for help when he realizes that she had once been a close friend of the Bremonts. This is a lively whodunit steeped in the romantic atmosphere of southern France.

"This first novel in a projected series has charm, wit, and Aix-en-Provence all going for it. [M.L.] Longworth's voice is like a rich vintage of sparkling Dorothy Sayers and grounded Donna Leon. The mix of aristocratic mystery and guide to Provencal wines, foods, habits, and Aix itself is a delight, and the old-fashioned plot line, with actual clues planted for the reader, offers a refreshing return to Golden Age values.... The sexual tension and maneuvering that accompany the interviews are, at times, hilarious. Longworth has lived in Aix since 1997, and her knowledge of the region is apparent on every page. Bon appétit."—Booklist (starred review)